The Tragic Death of Daniel Tragerman

A timely message from the Book of Daniel.

But he never made it past his fourth birthday. He was murdered by those who rejoiced when he died. He was just a little boy who loved to play, who idolized soccer star Lionel Messi, who identified with the comic book crime fighter Spiderman. He had an angelic face and a beautiful smile.

He was a bright little boy. He was smart enough to understand when he had to dash to the protected room at his Kibbutz Nahal Oz home. But on that Friday he only had three seconds between the alarm and the time when the mortar shell fell and he didn’t make it.

Like all little boys he had dreams of what he would love to do when he grew up. But that will never be. Daniel Tragerman was buried this past Sunday.

His family will never celebrate his bar mitzvah. His parents will never walk him down the aisle to join his beloved bride under the bridal canopy. Everything that he could’ve accomplished in life will remain an everlasting void, unfulfilled.

And his killers are celebrating in Gaza. Because this is how they measure success.

This was not an accidental killing. This was not an unfortunate death that inadvertently occurred by way of undesired collateral damage, the kind of death that Israel so deeply mourns when efforts to prevent terrorists from firing missiles into populated areas sometimes tragically results in the deaths of innocents. This was for them a declared victory. An Israeli, a settler, a Jew, a four-year-old little boy perished – and the leaders of Hamas pride themselves on this glorious achievement.

There ought to be a book written about Daniel. And remarkably enough I believe there was. It is called the Book of Daniel and it is a part of our holy Bible.

In it we are told that because of Daniel the message of the mysterious handwriting on the wall was revealed. The story is cryptic, yet at the same time profoundly illuminating. Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, used the holy golden and silver vessels from Solomon's Temple at a drunken feast to praise "the gods of gold and silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone". Soon afterwards, disembodied fingers appeared and wrote on the wall of the royal palace the words Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.

The King’s advisers attempted to explain the meaning of the words. Their efforts were fruitless. The King then sought out Daniel, an exiled Israelite taken from Jerusalem who had served in high office under Nebuchadnezer.

And this was Daniel’s explanation:

Mene, Mene - God has numbered the days of your kingdom - and brought it to an end;

Tekel - you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;

Upharsin - your kingdom is divided - and given to the Medes and Persians

History records that on that very night King Belshazzar was slain, Darius the Mede became King and Belshazzar’s kingdom was divided between the Medes and Persians.

Daniel had correctly interpreted the handwriting on the wall. It remained his legacy for all generations. It is how Herman Melville’s classic, Moby-Dick, Ishmael ominously describes the appearance of St. Elmo's Fire on their whaling ship, the Pequod, when he writes, "...when God's burning finger has been laid on the ship, when His 'Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin' has been woven into the shrouds and the cordage."

And it is the legacy I would hope Daniel Tragerman’s death leaves behind as we hear remarkable echoes of the biblical prophet Daniel’s warning implicit in the divine message of the handwriting on the wall.

Mene - While CNN and the New York Times as well as the rest of the world’s prejudiced media choose to ignore the quantity of rockets and missiles Hamas fired into Israel motivated solely by the desire - as made clear by its charter – to kill as many men, women and children as possible, we can be certain that every one of these instruments of murder are numbered by God. God counts the thousands upon thousands of attempts to kill His children – and for that there will be a final accounting. That is what was foretold by Daniel of old. That is the divine judgment of the handwriting on the wall that is as relevant today as it was for Belshazzar in biblical times.

Mene - While the United Nations continue to look for ways to offer Hamas respite and opportunities to re-arm during cease-fires ostensibly arranged for humanitarian purposes, and refuses to tally the total number of times Hamas has broken these very same cease-fires arranged in order to help them, God counts all of them. Broken commitments are tallied. Lies are calculated. Missiles fired in times of agreed-upon peace are totaled. And these too are joined to the Almighty’s decision to exact punishment against those who still haven’t been willing to read the handwriting on the wall that so clearly foretells their fate.

Tekel- Unlike those who give equal weight to Israel’s defensive measures against constant attack in a war they didn’t initiate to Hamas's double war crimes of firing rockets at innocent civilians while using their innocent civilians as human shields, God weighs actions on a scale guided by justice and righteousness. In God’s eyes, evil cannot masquerade as virtuous no matter how brilliant and deceptive its public relations.

Upharsin - the verdict is unavoidable. Those who despise the norms of civilized behavior, those who seek every opportunity to choose war over peace, those who glory in death and destruction will meet the destiny predicted by Daniel long ago.

To those who murdered Daniel just a few days ago, I urge them to read the book of the Bible that bears his name. Let them know that its message of divine judgment is as certain as the original handwriting on the wall.

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

Rabbi Benjamin Blech, a frequent contributor to Aish, is a Professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University and an internationally recognized educator, religious leader, and lecturer. Author of 14 highly acclaimed books with combined sales of over a half million copies, his newest, The World From A Spiritual Perspective, is a collection of over 100 of his best Aish articles. See his website at rabbibenjaminblech.com.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 24

(16)
Ben Wallace,
May 10, 2015 1:29 AM

Wow

(15)
Laja thomas,
November 13, 2014 3:23 PM

Killing our children

I fail to understand what makes a muslim happy to kill a child does a muslim mother not mourn her dead child? Like michael wrote not all muslims are evil not all jews are good but let us think of the pain this is causing to us is causing to jews? My parents lost their whole family and now jews are crying again for the loss of their children this must end before it is to late

(14)
ladydi,
September 3, 2014 11:02 PM

When this happened, I was totally horrified. Their faces were on my mind when I went to sleep at night and they were the first faces I saw when I awoke in the morning. Mans inhumanity to man will never cease.

(13)
Konrad Yona Riggenmann,
August 27, 2014 1:39 PM

Jewish ethics? Civilized behavior?

“Those who despise the norms of civilized behavior …” will meet their Mene Tekel, warns Rabbi Blech and the echo follows quickly:“May H’ avenge the blood …” appeals one Pinchas Levin.“May they rot in hell” desires one (slightly Christian-minded) Cohen.“Flatten Gaza there is no other way” commands one Winnie Wright.“It would be best if the lot of them vacated Gaza and went wherever, all buildings leveled and Gaza annexed by Israel and made into a productive real estate” opines one broker Cohn.Is this civilized behavior? Is this Jewish ethics? If at Passover we don’t forget to mourn also for the Egyptians who drowned in the Red Sea, shouldn’t we mourn for little Daniel and the 490 little ones who died in Gaza by whosesoever guilt?In 1891, early Zionist Ahad Ha’am warned: “How careful we must be not to arouse the anger of other people against ourselves by reprehensible conduct. How much more, then, should we be careful, in our conduct toward a foreign people among we live once again, to walk together in love and respect, and needless to say in justice and righteousness.” The year 2014 seems to fulfill what Shlomo Sand asserted in 2012: “With the terrifying assistance of history, Zionism defeated Judaism.”

Michael,
August 27, 2014 6:43 PM

Moral highground?

Is this civilized behavior? It takes two to tango, and one of these civilizations we're speaking about is anything but civil. Where is the civility in purposely killing innocents?

There is something to be said for taking the moral high ground. Now, unfortunately is not the time. Moral high ground requires that both parties are rational and respectful (if not of others, at least of themselves). We are not dealing with rational people. We are dealing with EVIL. Rational people don't cheer when innocents are murdered. Rational people don't exploit their own innocents as shields and then use their deaths as propaganda to make their enemies appear barbaric. Rational people prefer peace and will strive to reach a lasting piece even if it means making compromises. Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood don't want peace. They want extermination. Countless times they have turned down land in return for peace, violated ceasefires, and used the land Israel returned to them as a staging ground for more violence. The time for moral high ground while innocents are slaughtered is over.

Konrad Yona Riggenmann,
August 28, 2014 9:31 PM

Dim down moral highground?

Simplify your life: Put people into two boxes (good-EVIL), add a truism completely unfit for this bloody conflict (“it takes two to tango”) and proclaim that “time for moral …” is over every time “… innocents are murdered”. Dear Michael, has there ever been a time when no innocents were killed? Is Jewish ethics only for peaceful times when everyone sits under his fig tree? Should “moral high ground” be dimmed down quickly in times of conflict? I agree with your view that Palestinians exploit their innocent victims (on base of the old European defamation of Jews as child killers) and hope to have proved this fact last Monday in a debate at the Catholic University here in Curitiba where I had the honor to represent the Jewish side. Would I have been entitled to quote from Genesis 18? “Far be it from You to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike!” Is it Zionism’s merit to have finally proved that Abraham was not “rational” enough? Anyhow, thanks for your reply which strongly confirms my comment.

Michael,
August 29, 2014 4:58 PM

What would you call evil?

2 boxes, good and evil? I'm not saying Israel is 100% good or that Islam is 100% evil, but what these murderers are doing? Yes, that's 100% evil. The way they teach their children from birth to hate and kill us? Yes, that's 100% evil. Very sorry you took offense to my "two to tango" remark, perhaps I should over-explain in the future and rationalize inaction (to give us time to ponder the philosophy of the existence of evil and whether these murderers are truly evil) while they continue to fire missiles. So Konrad, yes, there IS a time for studying ethics and pondering over the minutiae, but if you expect Hamas to be ethical and civil, or if you expect that we can arrive at peace through more peace talks, I would encourage you to try. The fact remains that just as there is a time for studying, there is a time for action. If someone, G-d forbid, threatens the safety of your family, are you going to worry about ethics or protecting your loved ones?

Liba,
August 29, 2014 1:56 AM

This is Jewish Ethics

Jewish Ethics demand revenge of murder. The torah states that even an inadvertent killing will not be unpunished, "the blood of the murdered cries out from the earth!" It is Christianity that preaches forgiveness to murderers. In Judaism, we understand that no matter how good a person is, if he commits certain acts (like murder, adultery, public shabbos desecration, etc), only death will atone for his sin. And for wicked people, even death will not atone, and they need to experience the punishments in Gehinnom. For more information on this topic, read Rejoice O Youth by Rabbi Avigdor Miller par 682 and 690.

(12)
Sandy,
August 27, 2014 1:16 PM

Thank you Rabbi

Thank you very much Rabbi.

(11)
Em,
August 27, 2014 1:01 AM

And sorry to say but the israeli leaders who are not acting in israel's best interest but sacrificed danielle's life and the life of many others in order to appease the other nations, i hope G-d forgives them because the blood is ALSO on their hands. The world is still making israel to be the bad guys so they are unsuccessful in making israel look good, regardless. So there is no gain in not wiping out hamas :(

(10)
leah adler,
August 26, 2014 11:08 PM

positive feedback

Thank you Rabbi Blech. I remember you as a rabbi in Oceanside, LI. I love your explanation of current events in the context of Jewish wisdom.

(9)
Deacon Chuck,
August 26, 2014 8:17 PM

The culture of death will reap what it sows.

The culture of death will receive what it wants, but the after life will not be what they look forward to!

(8)
Miriam,
August 26, 2014 6:20 PM

Beautiful

Thank you for the beautiful article.

(7)
Nancy,
August 26, 2014 6:17 PM

The word heinous doesn't even come CLOSE to describing this horrific act of violence. May Daniel's sweet neshama have a swift aliyah.

(6)
Anonymous,
August 26, 2014 5:53 PM

Amazing message of hope

(5)
Katherine Jobe,
August 26, 2014 4:53 PM

This story just broke my heart. I can't get this little boy out of my mind. I will pray for strength for his family.

(4)
Laurence Cohn,
August 26, 2014 4:03 PM

This a little here and a little there action will not work

Give notice to the residents of Gaza to vacate, destroy every building without exception where weapons are found. Push comes to shove it would be best if the lot of them vacated Gaza and went wherever, all buildings leveled and Gaza annexed by Israel and made into productive real estate.

Penina dror,
August 26, 2014 4:50 PM

Amen

Amen

winnie wright,
August 26, 2014 6:33 PM

You will not be shown mercy flatten Gaza there is no other way. You've gone thru all this for five thousand years. It's time it ended

SarahRachel,
August 26, 2014 11:17 PM

Give Gaza Back to the 5000 Jews expelled from Gaza

They lost their businesses, their homes, their everything and were forced to live in small trailers not in permanent homes as the Israeli Gov't had promised them. In 2005-2006 5000 Jews were forced from their own homes, synagogues, and businesses by the Israeli Gov't and IDF soldiers who used every means to remove them including lying and violence against those who protested.

Marjo,
August 28, 2014 6:08 PM

Hamas

The USA and other countries must come together and unite in words and action to once and for all to wipe out the EVIL that Hamas has and is doing day after day. What I can't contemplate, is why this has not occurred a long time ago! What are we waiting for!!!!!!

(3)
Anonymous,
August 26, 2014 3:51 PM

This article is simply breathtaking!!I love articles that use Tanach as as explanation and clarification to current issues.

(2)
Pinchas Levin,
August 26, 2014 3:26 PM

Gut gesacht!

Yasher koyach - a brilliant wort. May H' avenge the blood of his innocents!

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!